Camden Hills State Park & Camden Maine

Monday July 1, 2013
Site 60 Camden Hills State Park
Camden, Maine

 

 

First days at a new campground always seem to be over doers’ days.  You’d think we’d learn.

 

 

 

First thing this morning we ride the bikes across Route 1 to the ocean side of the park.   This is the day use area with playground, picnic tables and a relatively short “seaside trail”    I want to be beside the sea, beside the seaside, by the beautiful sea.  Ok so how many of you know the tune??

 

 

 

 

 

The trail from the parking lot down to the seaside trail looks like something done by the CCC.  The area is green with moss.

 

 

 

 

 

The sea side trail is wide and has picnic tables and grilles along it although they have let the bushes and trees grow up so that only some of them have a water view.   It is overcast today of course so you can’t tell from the pictures below that you are looking out at the water.  It just looks like a white haze until you get closer which we do when we find this trail down.

 

 

And there it is, the rocky coast of Mid Maine.  Just like the calendars except they have blue skies, puffy clouds and a much longer view so that all the islands out there are also visible.  But it’s beautiful any time in any conditions.  Like right now.

 

 

 

Maine does have the best rocks.  Look at the colors.

 

We can’t get down to the water at this point, the path only leads to the cliffs so we go back up and walk the Seaside trail to the other end.

 

 

We don’t find what looks like an authorized maintained path only one that appears to a bit sketchy but maintained by use.   We try it.  Lucky there are tree branches to help out.

 

But beware where you put your hand!  :-))

 

 

Here we are, another version of the rocky coast of Maine and again the haze/fog moving toward the shore.

 

 

       

 

Same shot as above a few minutes later.  The fog is closing in.

 

 

 

 

Why am I squinting?  I guess it’s just bright even without the sun.

  

 

David sets out to see if there is another path up since the one we came down was mostly mud.  Fog is getting thicker.

 

 

 

And with it comes the rain.

 

Fog’s moving in fast, time to go back.  But we did get a teeny window to come down and see the water and the lovely varied rocks that make up the renown coast of Maine.

 

 

 

 

 

On our way back along the Seaside path I look out and see a fisherman coming to either pick up or drop off his traps.  

 

We stop to find out.  It’s fun watching them although I can’t quite tell what they are doing.  That’s some big fish though.  Any fishermen out there??  Can you identify the fish??

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

Since it’s just overcast and raining off and on we think going on a long hike or bike ride probably isn’t a good idea. 

 

SO why not go into Camden and find some lobster rolls for lunch?  GREAT idea!!

We drive to town although there is a bike path but the threat of rain continues.  We snatch an on street  parking place and walk around looking for possible lobster venues. On the way we pass two bakeries.  We check both our and return later to this one.  I get a “sticky bun” of course and David gets a piece of home made strawberry rhubarb pie.

 

 

Of course on our walk through town I’m busy looking at the menus of the restaurants to figure out which one has the lobster roll I’m looking for – no mayo (ekkkk) only drawn butter.  Thus I forget to take any pictures of this cute little town.  It’s fairly “touristy” but not to the point of obnoxious.

We decide on Graffam Brothers Harborside.  The Graffam Brothers also have a seafood market.  They have been selling lobster locally and shipping lobster since 1946.   Get lobster shipped right to your door.  Here’s their website.  Have your self a little lobstah. 

 

The restaurant is right on the harbor so we have a great view.  It is not really that dark inside.  In fact, it’s not dark at all, it’s just that my camera has no back lighting setting and I haven’t figured out how to deal with this bright hazy white sky.   Camera geniuses please advise.

 

 

 

But I do know how to deal with this lobster roll.  I highly recommend Graffam brothers, our lunch was excellent.  It came with delicious slaw, hand cut french fries and the lobster roll with drawn butter on the side just the way I like it.   All for $12.95.  Best price I’ve seen. 

 

I must clarify that normally I prefer my lobster warm but lobster rolls always come with cold lobster.  Guess it’s more of a lunch/salad dish.

 

Today my butter is warm and the lobster is delicious!  I am definitely a seafood girl – lobster, crabs, oysters, clams love them above all else and in that order.

 

And we just have enough room for a piece of homemade Maine Blueberry pie.  Yes sir, when in Maine it is blueberries and lobster for me!

 

      

 

Now of course we have to walk off all that food.

 

After lunch we go back to the park and up to Mount Battie to see if there is any view of the town and harbor where we have just been.

The clouds have cleared somewhat, you can at least see the town at the foot although the islands in the distance are totally fogged in and the fog is coming in over the land.

 

 

 

 

 

There are paths around the top of the mountain and they are lined with low bush blueberries.  We were both busy picking so I forgot to take a picture of our Mt. Battie Blueberries.   I think I need to find out if there was a character named Battie.  I laugh every time I say it.  Kind of a silly name for a strong mountain.

 

 

From the point at the bottom of this path, we see the fog is drifting further and further in over the church steeples of the town.

  

  

We climb up the tower  at the top of Mount Battie  erected in 1921 to honor those from the town of Camden who fought in THE world war.  Little did they know that from that point onward this country would be increasingly involved in wars.  20 years to World War II, 8 years from the end of that war to Korea,  about 5 years to Vietnam, and from that point on it almost seems as if we are constantly at war somewhere.  I wonder if this is really necessary or good for any of us.  I know it is good for “business” and I suspect that is why it continues.  But enough of my politics.  These memorials always make me both sad and angry at the young lives lost.

 

 

 

 

The view from here is spectacular on a clear day,  But today you cannot see all the islands off shore for miles out to sea.  Sure hope we have a better day before we leave though rain and fog are predicted our entire 5 days.

 

 

 

 

And Next??

 

After all that hiking and eating it’s apparently time for a nap.